Container-loading system

ABSTRACT

A first conveyor for containers is supplied with containers on a demand basis and is disposed under a product conveyor for conveying articles such as packaged bread which has a discharge portion in superposed generally convergent relation with the container conveyor. A stop momentarily halts each container just forwardly of the discharge portion of the product conveyor and a pusher, which is controlled by a sensor indicating that a full group of articles is available, moves the articles down the product conveyor and into the container in a manner to compress the products in the direction of travel thereof and pack them into the container. The products which are to be delivered to a given container are supplied as a group which entirely fills the container and a downstream transverse pusher member operates to transversely press or pack the articles into the container when the container is again halted.

United States Patent I 72] Inventors Norman Krenke Saginaw; Charles E. Ingram, Freeland, both of, Mich. [21] Appl No. 860,481 [22] Filed Sept. 24, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 73] Assignee Baker Perkins Inc.

Saginaw, Mich.

[54] CONTAINER-LOADING SYSTEM 43 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. CI 53/55, 53/124 D, 53/160 [51 1 .Int. Cl.. B65b 57/06, B65b 57/12, B651) 35/44 [50] FieldoiSearch 53/55, 160,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,377,774 4/1968 Nigrelli et al 53/160 X Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Attorney Learman, Learman & 'McCulloch ABSTRACT: A first conveyor for containers is supplied with containers on a demand basis and is disposed under a product conveyor for conveying articles such as packaged bread which has a discharge portion in superposed generally convergent relation with the container conveyor. A stop momentarily halts each container just forwardly of the discharge portion of the product conveyor and a pusher. which is controlled by a sensor indicating that a full group of articles is available, moves the articles down the product conveyor and into the container in a manner to compress the products in the direction of travel thereof and pack them into the container. The products which are to be delivered to a given container are supplied as a group which entirely fills the container and a downstream transverse pusher member operates to transversely press or pack the articles into the container when the container is again halted.

PATENTEU AUG 1 719m SHEET 1 BF 5 I "I l l I FIG. 4.

EDDIIEJEJ U ,E: 1:1 C] In: 1311151 FIG. 2.

INVENTORS NORMAN O. KRENKE CHARLES EVERETT INGRAM PATENTEU AUG] 7 IBYI sum 2 OF 5 INVENTQRS NORMAN O. KRENKE CHARLES EVERETT INGRAM .Laapnau, lia'mzau c9 di=Cu lLoc/i (DBY N mu nu PATENTED AUG] 7 I97:

01 J F U V A q 3" To INVENTORS NORMAN O. KRENKE CHARLES EVERETT INGRAM 53m, lialmau 1 gfl iglt f:

PATENTED AUG! 7 |97| SHEET BF 5 Mow LS-3c LS-Za INVENTORS NORMAN O. KRENKE CHARLES EVERETT'INGRAM .l'aazman, l'aa-unau r5 aTlcCulL-a/ l I I LSs-Bu I 76o i 756 86 LS-3b LS-3C3 LS-lb 76c FIG 7.

INVENTORS NORMAN O. KRENKE CHARLES EVERETT INGRAM 12am, lisatman :5 cihnL'uUuh CONTAINER-LOADING SYSTEM Container-loading apparatus presently in use is of the type wherein a container is advanced to a loading position and a first row of products is supplied to the container, after which the container is indexed forwardly again and a second row of products is supplied.

One of the prime objects of the present invention is to provide a different system wherein all of the several rows of products which are to be received in a given container are delivered simultaneously and packed therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved container loading system of a simple and efficient, yet reliable, nature which assures that a full supply of products will always be delivered to a container.

Primarily, the invention is concerned with a high-speed container-loading system capable of operating in a fully automated production line in a bakery at the high speeds which are necessary. The container loader used in the system, is used in conjunction with packaging machinery for packaging bread loaves and other bakery products, and in conjunction with machinery for racking the palletized or containerized products after they have been delivered from the container loader so that they may be readily moved aboard suitable delivery trucks. A system of the character involved is illustrated in the present assignee's copending application. Ser. No. 568,269, filed July 27, 1966 by Hiram E. Temple and entitled Bakery Product Handling System, now US. Pat. No.

3,466,839 granted Sept. 16, I969.

Briefly, the present container loader includes a tray or container conveyor, a product delivery conveyor in convergent relationship therewith, a sweep operating in conjunction with the product delivery conveyor for moving products therefrom to a container which has been halted'in a predetermined position on the container conveyor, and a sensing means operative to move the sweep to load a complete supply of products only when a container is in position to receive a full supply of products, a full supply of products is in position to be delivered to the container, and a stop for halting the container is activated.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and the remaining descriptive material and claims. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view illustrating the container-loading system; i

FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view of the tray or container conveyor portion only;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the container loader mechanism in more detail;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view thereof taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container-loading sweep bar and associated mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a typical electrical control circuit; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic electrical diagram showing an 'alternate control circuit for operating the loader mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, and in the first instance to FIGS. 1 and 2 for a general description of the system, it will be observed that the numerals 10 and 11 have been employed to generally designate the superposed product and container conveying lines, respectively. As FIG. 2 particularly indicates, the containers, which may take the form of relatively flat trays or pallets, or perhaps relatively deeper baskets are generally depicted at C. The container conveyor system 11, which is shown, may comprise endless conveyors 12, I3, 14, 15 and 16 as shown. The conveyor line or system 11 operates to supply containers C to a loading station generally designated 17 on a demand basis and it is to be understood that just upstream of station 17 a container C is halted just prior to receiving a full complement of products from the conveyor 10. The interval of halt utilized prior to loading is not a constant one but as will become apparent, is dependent on factors which include the availability of a full complement of products to be loaded.

As FIG. I particularly indicates, the products may comprise groups of packaged or bagged bread loaves, designated B, which are supplied by packaging or bagging machines to an endless bread feed conveyor, generally designated 18 intermittently operated by a motor M (FIG. 6). The conveyor 18 may be fed in the same manner as the conveyor 16 on a demand basis by a series of conveyors (not shown) leading from a pattern forming or grouping machine. In the present instance three rows of bread are shown as constituting a group or pattern but other various patterns are possible. The groups of bread loaves B (three rows of five loaves each disposed longitudinally) move from the conveyor 18 to the sweep loader assembly generally designated 19 which is particularly depicted in FIGS. 3-5. It is to be understood that the successive groups of loaves B will each comprise a full complement of loaves spaced a predetermined distance apart.

THE SWEEP LOADER ASSEMBLY Provided to support the sweep assembly is a framework generally designated F, including pairs of front and rear support posts 21 and 22, respectively, which straddle the endless conveyor 16. Upper and lower cross members 23 and 24, and side members 23aand 24a, connect the posts 21 and 22 as shown. The assembly 19 includes a so called magic carpet" conveyor, generally designated 25, comprising spaced apart endless chains-26 between which rollers 27 are rotatably connected. At their rear ends the chains 26 are trained around sprockets 28 mounted on a shaft 29 journaled in bearings 30, and at their front ends the chains 26 may be trained around sprockets 31 provided on a shaft 32 supported by bearings 33 on frame members 24a. As shown particularly in FIG. 3, side guides 35 intermediate the sprockets 28 and 31 are provided around which the chains are also trained, and cause the upper run of conveyor 25 to follow a path which includes a horizontal portion 25 and a downwardly inclined portion 25" in generally converging relation with the upper horizontal run of conveyor 16.

A bridge plate 36 is supported by the framework F between the conveyors 18 and 25 to assist the products in moving from conveyor 18 to conveyor 25, and, mounted above the conveyor 25, is a sweep conveyor generally designated 37 which comprises a pair of transversely spaced apart endless chains 38 spanned by a pair of equal distantly spaced sweep bars 39 and 40. The chains 38 may be trained around .upper rear sprockets 41 supported on stub shaft 42 which are journaled in bearings 43 similarly provided on the spaced apart rearwardly extending frame support plates 44. At their front ends the chains 38 are trained around upper and lower sprockets 45 and 45' mounted on shafts 46 and stub shafts 46' journaled by bearings 47 and 47 supported by the framework F.

The chains 38 are intermittently driven by a motor M 1 through a clutch CL having its input hub mounted on a-shaft 49. The sprocket 48 for driving the conveyor 37 is mounted on the output shaft 49aof the clutch CL. On the opposite side of the machine a Gemco cam box generally designated G has a cam shaft 51 driven by motor M and actuating various control limit switches in the usual manner. A sprocket 50 provided on the cam shaft 51 is thus intermittently driven in a manner which will be described. Chains 38 are driven via a chain 52 trained around sprockets 48 and 52b on shafts 49aand 46 respectively. An idler sprocket 53 mounted on a shaft 53ajournaled by hearing blocks 53bis provided as shown.

The chains 26 are directly driven by the motor M continuously through a sprocket 54 fixed to its output shaft 49. The sprocket 54 for driving the conveyor 25 is connected via a drive chain 56 with a drive sprocket 57 on the shaft 32. The chain 56 is trained around an idler sprocket 58 mountedon a shaft 59 and also'around an oppositely disposed idler sprocket 60 mounted on a shaft 61 which is adjustably mounted by a block-'62, block 62 having a slot 63 in which shaft 61 is received and suitable securing means being provided for securing shaft 61 in a longitudinally adjusted position. Mounted immediately in front of the conveyor 25 is a transfer plate 64, fixed on a pivotal shaft 66 and spring biased upwardly to the position shown in the drawing. The plate 64 receives bread loaves from the conveyor 25 and provides a slide down which the loaves move to the waiting container C.

The Gemco cam box G includes cams on the cam shaft 51 which actuate control limit switches G,G., (FIG. 6).

THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL CIRCUIT As FIG. 2 indicates, conventional photoelectric eye members 67, 68, and 69 are provided at the left-hand or front end of each of the tray conveyors 13-15 to operate these conveyors on a demand basis. The conveyor 12 is continuously driven by an electric motor P, see FIG. 6, and the conveyors 13, 14 and 15 are intermittently driven by the motors P,,P,, respectively. As FIG. 3 indicates, the motor M is provided to continuously-drive the conveyor 16 via a chain 70 trained around sprockets 71 and 71' provided on shafts 71a and 71a respectively. The conveyor 16 includes a conveyor portion 16a driven from the shaft 71a via a sprocket 71b and a chain 710 trained around a sprocket 71d on a conveyor drive shaft 71a. The conveyor 16 ahead of portion 16a is driven at a faster rate of speed to space out the containers C thereon.

Each of the eye members 6769 may be of the type which includes a beam transmitter and a remote reflector, and which has a switch which is normally closed when the transmitter is transmitting without interruption. The switches 67a69a for the eye units 6769 respectively, are shown provided in series in FIG. 6 with the motor units, P P across the source of electrical energy generally shown at S connected with the AC lines L, and L Thus, except when the containers C are in a position interrupting the beams from any of the electric eye units 6769, the conveyors 13-15 are being driven by their respective motors P P The conveyor 16a is driven at the same speed as conveyors 12-15 whereas the conveyor 16 is driven at about twice that speed in order to space out the containers C received thereon as noted.

The conveyors l416 are also provided with limit switches 14I16a having normally closed contacts 14a,l6a, connected in parallel with the normally closed limit switches 67a69a respectively. In this manner, the motors P --P., will continue to operate until the next succeeding conveyor has a tray thereon. The sweep and magic carpet conveyor drive motor M, and the pallet conveyor motor M may be connected across the lines L, and L through the normally open contacts ofa start switch 72.

As FIG. 3 indicates, photoelectric eye members 73 and 74 are provided adjacent the transfer plate 64 and between the conveyors 18 and 25 respectively. The eye members 73 and 74 include the conventional light beam transmitters and remote reflectors, and switches 73a and 74a respectively which are normally open when the transmission of the beams is interrupted and are closed when the beams are transmitted without interruption. The switches 73a and 74a are connected in series with a pair of relays 75 and 76, respectively, across the lines L, and L The motor M, for driving the bread feed conveyor 18 is connected across the source S in series with the normally open contacts M which are closed when the motor M, is energized, and two sets of normally open contacts 75a and 7512 which are closed when the relay 75 is energized. The normally open set of contacts 76a, which are closed when the relay 76 is energized are connected in parallel with the normally open contacts 75a. Connected in parallel with the normally open contacts 75b is a set of normally open contacts LS-3a, which are closed when the limit switch LS-3 located on conveyor 16 (see FIG. 3), is actuated by a tray being positioned adjacent the loading station 17.

Connected between the junction of contacts M and 75a and the line L, is a series circuit comprising a set of normally closed contacts 75c, which are opened when the relay 75 is energized, a set of normally open contacts 7612, which are closed when the relay 76 is energized, the normally open contacts LS-3b, which are closed when the limit switch LS-3 is actuated, the normally closed contacts LS-la which are opened when a tray actuates the limit switch LS-l located adjacent the left end of the conveyor 16 (see fig. 3), and the clutch coil C, of conventional clutch CL which, when energized, will connect the output of the motor M, with the sweep conveyor 37. Connected in parallel with the series circuit including the contacts 75c, 76b, LS-3b and LS-la is a set of GEMCO operated contacts G which are closed by a cam when the sweep conveyor 37 is operated.

Connected in series across the lines L, and L are a set of normally closed contacts LS-3c, which are opened when the limit switch LS-3 is actuated, and the advance solenoid 77a of an air cylinder 77 provided for raising a container stopping gate 78, (see FIG. 3). The retract solenoid 77b of the air cylinder 77 for lowering the container stopping gate 78 is connected in series across the source S with the normally open GEMCO operated contacts G which are closed by a cam during a portion of the operative cycle of the sweep conveyor 37. Connected in parallel with the retract solenoid 77b is the solenoid S1 of the spring returned, single acting air cylinder 640 (see FIG. 3) provided for pivoting the transfer plate 64 downwardly about the shaft 66 to permit the loaves to enter a container C.

Also serially connected across the source are a set of normally open contacts LS-lb, which are closed when the limit switch LS-l is actuated, the GEMCO operated contacts G, which are closed during a portion of the operative cycle of the sweep conveyor 37, and a parallel circuit, having one branch including a relay 79 and the normally open contacts 790 which are closed when the relay 79 is energized. The parallel circuit includes another branch with normally closed contacts 7%, which are opened when the relay 79 is energized, and the advance solenoid 80a of a single-acting, spring-returned air cylinder 80 (see FIG. 2) provided for advancing a downstream, bread positioner 81 (see FIG. 3) transversely of the conveyor 16 when a pallet is adjacent a position gate 82 mounted on the left end of the conveyor 16 in FIG. 3. When the break positioner 81 moves transversely, it engages the rows of loaves to compress them and packs them transversely into the container C. It also engages and actuates a limit switch LS-2 to close the normally open contacts LS-2a which are connected in series with the retract solenoid 83a of single acting, spring returned air cylinder 83 provided for lowering the gate 82 from the position shown in the drawing to permit the loaded trays to proceed on the conveyor 16. A line 84 connects the junction of contacts LS-2a and 83a with the junction of relay 79 and contacts 79a to energize the relay 79 when the contacts LS-2a are closed.

The linear speed of the conveyor 37 is substantially greater than the linear speed of the magic carpet conveyor 25. For example, the linear speed of the conveyor 37 may be 240 feet per minute when the downwardly inclined portion ofconveyor 25 is traveling at 142 feet per minute. When conveyor 25 is moving at this speed, conveyor 18 may be traveling at 80 feet per minute and the conveyor 16 at a linear speed of feet per minute.

THE OPERATION In operation, the motors P,P, are operated so as to provide containers C to the conveyor 16 on demand as described previously. The start switch 72 is closed to energize the motors M and M thereby closing the contacts M The motor M, will continuously drive the magic carpet loader conveyor 25 while the motor M will drive the conveyor 16 to deliver a container C to a position against the stop 78. When a container is moved to the stop 78, the limit switch LS-3 is actuated to close the contacts LS-3a, LS-3b and open contacts LS-3c. Assuming initially that there are not bread loaves opposite either of the electric eyes 73 or 74, the switches 73a and 74a will close to energize relays 75 and 76 which will operate to close switches 75a, 75b, 76a and 76b and will open the contacts 75c. When bread is presented to the conveyor 25, it will temporarily interrupt the beam of the electric eye 74 to deenergize the relay 76 and open the contacts 76a and 76b. The bread feed conveyor 18 will continue to operate in that its motor M will be energized through the closed contacts 75a and 75b. The conveyor is effective to move the bread loaves away from the electric eye 74 so that contacts 74a again close to reenergize the relay 76, and to close the contacts 76a and 76b. The clutch coil C is still not energized, however, because the contacts 75c remain open. As the conveyor 25 moves the bread downwardly onto the plate 64, the electric eye 73 is blocked to open the switch contacts 73a to deenergize the relay 75 and open the switch contacts 75a, 75b and close the contacts 750 The closing of the contacts 750 will now complete the circuit from line L through the closed contacts M 75c, 76b, LS-3b, LS-la, and the clutch coil C to the line L When the clutch coil C is energized, the sweep and pallet loader motor M will be drivingly connected with the sweep conveyor 37. When the sweep conveyor 37 is operated, (switch LS-3 must indicate the presence of a container C) the GEMCO cam operated contacts G are closed to energize the solenoid S-l which will operate to pivot the plate 64 downwardly about the shaft 66 to permit the loaves to move directly from the conveyor 25, across the plate 64, and into the container C. The movement of the conveyor 37 will be effective to transfer the groups of bread loaves downwardly from the shelf 64 and press them longitudinally into the container C. Simultaneously with the lowering of the plate 64 to permit the sweep conveyor to push the loaves into the container C, the solenoid 77b for lowering the gate stop 78 will be energized to permit the continuously moving endless conveyor 16 to move the conveyor C to the left or forwardly sufficiently to receive the bread one the fly so to speak, Because sweep conveyor 37 is moving at a greater rate of speed than conveyor 16, the loaves are compressed longitudinally sufficiently by the sweep bar so that they do not hang up" on the rear wall of the container C. The loaded container C will move to the left until it engages the second stop gate 82 at which time the limit switch LS-l is actuated to close the contacts LS-lb and energize the bread positioner advance solenoid 80 through the contacts G which close during a portion of the operative cycle of the sweep conveyor 37. When the bread positioner 81 moves transversely to engage the loaves and make certain the loaves are received transversely within the container C and do not hang up on a side edge of the container, the limits switch LS-2 is actuated to close the contacts LS-2a and energize the solenoid 83a which lowers the gate 82 and permits the container to move to another conveyor (not shown) for further processing. The closure of the contacts LS-2a also energizes the relay 79 to open the contacts 79b to deenergize the solenoid 80, thereby permitting the bread positioner pusher to be spring returned to its original position and to close the normally open holding contacts 79a.

It is important to note that the sweep conveyor 37 will not operate when the pallet or container ahead is adjacent the positioner gate 82 in that the switch contacts LS-la will open. In this manner, a safety lock is provided in the system for preventing the bread-loaded containers from stacking up downstream of the loading station 17. When a container C clears limit switch LS-3, the contacts LS-3c close to energize solenoid 77a and raise the gate 78.

Although the contacts 75c connected in the clutch coil circuit will open when the eye 73 is unblocked, the cam operated contacts G will close to enable the sweep conveyor 37 to complete a cycle at which time the positions of the pushers 39 and 40 as viewed in FIG. 3 will be interchanged. The sweep conveyor 37 will always stop in a position so that one of the pushers 39 or 40 will be in a position adjacent the free end of the plate 64, as shown at 39 in FIG. 3, to prevent any bread loaves, which pass down freely rotatable rolls of the conveyor 25, from passing beyond the end of the plate 64 until such time as the plate 64 is moved downwardly and the pusher is operated.

It is also important to note that the sweep conveyor 37 will not operate when bread is positioned so as to block both of the electric eyes 73 and 74. The bread feed conveyor motor M, will operate when either the electric eye 73 is unblocked, so as to close the contacts 75a and 75b, or when the electric eye 74 is unblocked and a container is in position adjacent the stop 78 to close the switch contacts LS-3a.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the circuit disclosed therein for the purpose of directly handling the output of single row transfer machines is generally similar to the circuit illustrated in FIG. 6 with the following exceptions. The normally open switch 74a of the eye member 74 has been replaced by a switch 74a which is normally closed when the transmission of the beam associated therewith is interrupted. The normally open contacts 76a have been replaced by a set of normally closed contacts 76a which open when the relay 76 is deenergized. When a single row transfer machine is used to transfer single, spaced transverse rows of loaves to the conveyor 18 rather than a full complement, an optional counting circuit is disclosed for preventing operation of the sweep clutch until a predetermined number of loaves have passed the electric eye 74 and includes a counter, generally indicated at CR of the type manufactured by Automatic Timing and Controls Inc. of King of Prussia, Pa., and designated Atcotrol Series 310. This counter is represented in the circuit by the counter clutch coil and a count coil 86 which, as will be later described, is energized each time a row of loaves passes the eye 74. The counter CR has a set of normally open contact 86a which replace the contacts 76b of FIG. 6, a set of normally closed contacts 86b, and a set of normally open contacts 860. The counter CR includes a set of energizing contacts (not shown) which are normally spaced apart a predetermined set distance depending on the number of rows of loaves to be grouped. The construction of the counter CR is such that one of the energizing contacts is moved a predetermined distance toward the other each time the count coil 86 is deenergized. One of the energizing contacts 86a and 860 may be mounted on a manually movable pointer (not shown) which can be selectively set at a plurality of positions depending on the number of rows to be assembled and the other of the energizing contacts is mounted on a pointer which is pawl operated each time the count coil 86 is deenergized. When the driven pointer has been operated by the pawl the predetermined number of times, the energizing contacts will be in contact to energize the relay 86. When the relay 86 is energized, the normally open contacts 86a and 86b will close and the normally closed contacts 86b will open. The details of the counter CR form no part of the present invention and will not be further described.

The counting circuit includes a relay 84 serially connected across the source with the normally open contacts 76b, which are closed when the relay 76 is deenergized, the normally closed contacts 84a, which are open when the relay 84 is energized, and the normally open contacts 850, which are closed when the clutch coil 85 connected in parallel with the contacts 85a and the relay 84, is energized, Connected in parallel with w the contacts 76b and 84a is a series circuit comprising the normally closed GEMCO operated contacts G-5, which open for a short period, when the sweep conveyor 37 is operated, to reset the circuit, and the normally open contacts 85b which are closed when the clutch coil 85 is energized. Connected in parallel with the clutch coil 85, is a series circuit comprising the count coil 86, the normally open contacts 860, and the normally closed contacts 86b. Connected in parallel with the normally open contacts 86c are the normally open contacts 760' which are closed when the relay 76 is deenergized. Also connected in parallel with the relay 86 is a resistor 87.

The operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 7 is generally the same as the operation of the circuit disclosed in FIG. 6, however, the bread feed conveyor 18 will be operated whenever the eye 73 is unblocked. Also, when the eye 74 is blocked, the

contacts 76a are normally closed to complete a circuit through the closed contacts LS-3a and the bread feed conveyor motor M When the beam of the electric eye 74 is unblocked to open the normally closed contacts 74a and deenergize the relay 76, the normally open set of contacts 76b and 760 close to energize the count coil 86. The closing of the contacts 76b energizes the clutch coil 85 which operates to close the contacts 85a to energize the relay 84 which operates to open the contacts 84a. Energization of the clutch coil 85 also operates to close the contacts 85b which connects the count coil 86 to the line L,, through the closed cam-operated contacts G When a row of bread loaves passes the eye 74 to close the contacts 740', the relay contacts 760' will open to deenergize the count coil 86, thereby causing one of the energizing contacts to be indexed closer to the other. When the row of bread clears the eye 74, the switch contacts 74a again close to energize the relay 76. When another row of bread loaves passes, the contacts 760 again open to deenergize the coil 86. This operation will continue to repeat itself until the coil 86 has been deenergized the required number of times and the energizing contacts will close to energize a relay (not shown), to close contacts 86a and 86c, and open contacts 86b. When the contacts 86a close, the circuit will be completed to energize the clutch coil C to drive the sweep conveyor 37. This could occur when three rows of loaves has been counted so that the sweep conveyor 37 would then load a full complement of three rows of loaves to a container C. Movement of the conveyor 37 closes the contacts G G as previously described, and, in addition temporarily opens the contacts G to reset the counter which will be reinitiated by the closure of the contacts 76b.

It should be obvious that the motors designated MlM3 could suitably comprise relays or clutches for connecting suitable motors to a suitable source of power.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in a bakery-handling system comprising:

product conveyor means;

container conveyor means having a portion forwardly of and below said product conveyor means for conveying containers having bottom and sidewalls successively to a loading station;

means for operating said product conveyor means and said container conveyor means;

7 said product conveyor means including vertically movable means for moving from a raised position in which it receives products from said product conveyor means to a lowered position to transfer said products to a container on said container conveyor means;

, pusher transfer means movable in a path to engage behind a group of products on said product conveyor means and transfer said products to a container on said container conveying means; and

control and drive means, sensitive to the presence of product on said product conveyor means for intermittently driving said pusher means, when product is present.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vertically movable means operates in response to movement of said transfer means.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including first sensing means for sensing the presence of a product on said product conveyor means; said transfer means being responsive to said first sensing means.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including second sensing means for sensing the presence of a product on said vertically movable means; said transfer means being responsive to said second sensing means.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including third sensing means for sensing the presence of a container on said container conveyor means at said loading station; said transfer means being responsive to said third sensing means.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including fourth sensing means for sensing the presence of a container on said'container conveyor means downstream of said loading station; said transfer means being responsive to said fourth sensing means.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said fourth sensing means operates to disable operation of said transfer means when the presence of a container is sensed thereby.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including first container stop means for stopping a container on said container conveyor means at said loading station; said stop means being responsive to the operation of said transfer means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 including means for moving said first stop means to a nonstopping position when said transfer means is operated to permit said container to move forwardly along said container conveyor means when said groups of bread loaves are being transferred to said container.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 including second container stop means for stopping a container on said container conveyor means downstream of said loading station.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 including means moving transversely of said container conveyor means for pressing the products into the containers.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second container stop means is responsive to the position of said transverse moving means.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including first and second sensing means for sensing the position of a product on said product conveyor means, and said vertically movable means respectively, said vertically movable means operating in response to said first and second sensing means to move to said lowered position when the presence and absence of a product is sensed by said first and second sensing means respectively.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including third and fourth sensing means for sensing the position of a container on said container conveyor means; said vertically movable means operating in response to said third and fourth sensing means to move to said lowered position when thepresence and absence of a container is sensed by said third and fourth sensing means respectively.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vertically movable means is pivotally mounted on one end of an endless product conveyor means.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said endless product conveyor means includes a generally horizontally extending portion and an inclined portion in converging relation therewith.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said vertically movable means is mounted adjacent the inclined portion of said endless product conveyor means.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said product conveyor means has a discharge portion in generally convergent relation with said container conveyor means.

19. In container-loading apparatus for loading products such as packaged bread into containers or pallets:

first conveyor means for conveying containers;

product-conveying means disposed above said first conveyor means and having a discharge portion in superposed relationship therewith;

said first conveyor means and discharge portion of the product-conveying means extending in converging relation so that products from said product-conveying means may be readily deposited in said containers; and

transfer means for moving said products along said productconveying means and to a position to compress said products in the direction of travel thereof and pack them into said containers.

20. The combination defined in claim 10 in which means is provided for feeding groups of products to said product conveying means in spaced-apart relation with all products which are' to be received in a container fed as a group.

21. The combination defined in claim 19 in which said product-conveying means includes a substantially horizontally disposed delivery conveyor.

22. The combination defined in claim 19 in which means supplies containers to said first conveyor means on a demand basis.

23. The combination defined in claim 19 in which said first conveyor means includes at least two conveyors with the forward conveyor driven at a faster rate of speed to space out containers thereon.

24. The combination defined in claim 19 in which said transfer means comprises pusher means moving in a path of travel between a forward stopped position at the discharge end of said discharge portion in which it acts as a stop for following products and a rear position in which it engages behind products moving along said product conveying means; means being provided for stopping said pusher means in said forward stopped position.

25. The combination defined in claim 24 in which sensing means positioned adjacent the product-conveying means upstream from said discharge end controls said pusher means.

26. The combination defined in claim 19 in which said first conveyor means is continuously driven.

27. Apparatus for use in a bakery-handling system comprising:

product-conveying means;

container-conveying means extending forwardly of and below said product conveyor means and including a continuously driven container-advancing element for conveying containers having bottom and sidewalls successively to a loading station;

drive means for operating said product-conveying means and said container-conveying means;

intermittently operable pusher transfer means, sensitive to the presence of product on said product-conveying means and a container on said container-conveying means, for transferring a group of products from said product conveyor means to a container on said container-conveying means; and

control means for intermittently driving said transfer means in accordance with whether the presence of a product and a container is sensed to transfer a group of products to said container.

28. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including second sensing means downstream of said first sensing means for sensing the presence of a product on said product conveyor means in a position to be loaded into a container on said contamer-conveying means; said transfer means being controlled by said second sensing means; said product conveyor means including a plurality of longitudinally disposed freely rotatable rollers; said first sensing means being positioned opposite the input portion ofsaid plurality of rollers.

29. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including additional sensing means for sensing the presence of a container on said container-conveying means; said transfer means being controlled by said additional sensing means.

30. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including an intermittently operable infeed conveyor means for conveying products to said product conveyor means; first and second sensing means for sensing the presence of products on said product conveyor means; third sensing means for sensing the presence of a container on said container conveyor means; and means for intermittently operating said infeed conveyor means in response to said first, second, and third sensing means.

31. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including counting means for counting the products moving on said product conveyor means; said means for intermittently driving said transfer means being responsive to said counting means.

32. The combination defined in claim 19 in which said transfer means comprises a pusher moving above and along said product conveying means and at a rate of speed relative to said first conveyor means to compress said products in the direction of travel thereof.

33. The combination defined in claim 32 in which said first conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor operated to advance the container being loaded when the pusher is moving so that loading occurs on the fly.

34. The combination defined in claim 1 in which a horizontal conveyor feeds products to said product conveyor means and comprises a part thereof; and said container conveyor means comprises a horizontal conveyor in vertical alignment with said product conveyor means.

35. Apparatus for use in a bakery-handling system comprising:

product-conveying means comprising a continuously driven conveyor and an intermittently driven conveyor upstream thereof for supplying products thereto;

container-conveying means having a portion forwardly of and below said product conveyor means and including a container-advancing element for conveying containers having bottom and sidewalls successively to a loading station;

sensing means near the upstream end of said continuously driven conveyor for sensing the presence of absence of product thereon;

drive means for operating said container-conveying means;

pusher transfer means having a path of travel above and along said continuously driven conveyor;

drive means for moving said pusher means at a faster product-advancing rate of speed than said continuously driven conveyor for moving a group of products along said product conveyor means toward a container on said container conveying means;

means for driving said continuously driven conveyor; and

means controlled by said sensing means for driving said upstream intermittently driven conveyor to supply product when said sensing means indicates the absence of a product.

36. The combination defined in claim 35 in which said container advancing element is continuously driven and means is provided for sensing the presence of a container at said loading station; and control means is incorporated with said pusher drive means to drive said pusher transfer mean only if a container is at the station.

37. Apparatus for use in a bakery-handling system comprising:

product support means;

means for supplying products thereto;

container-conveying means extending forwardly of and below said product support means and including a continuously driven container-advancing element for conveying containers successively to a loading station;

drive means for operating said container advancing element;

intermittently operable pusher transfer means, sensitive to the presence of product on said product support means and a container on said container-conveying means for transferring a group of products from said product support means to a container on said container-conveying means; and

control and drive means for intermittently driving said transfer means in accordance with whether both the presence of a product and a container is sensed.

38. The combination defined in claim 37 in which said container-advancing element comprises an endless conveyor and a stop member is provided at said loading station and is movable to and from a position in which it stops a container on said endless conveyor; and said control and drive means drives said transfer means only ifa container is held by said stop member.

39. The combination defined in claim 38 in which a second downstream stop is provided adjacent said container-conveying means adjacent a second station and is movable to and from a position in which is stops a container thereon; and control means permits said control and drive means to drive said transfer means only if said second stop is not holding a container.

40. The combination defined in claim 38 in which sensing means adjacent said stop member comprises a portion of said control and drive means; and means is provided for moving said stop member to an inoperative position when said transfer means is driven.

41. Apparatus for use in a bakery-handling system comprising:

product-support means; means for supplying products thereto;

container-conveying means having a portion forwardly of ing:

and below said product support means and including a container-advancing element for conveying containers with bottom and sidewalls successively to a loading station;

first and second sensing means respectively near the downstream and upstream ends of said product support means for sensing the presence or absence of product thereon; drive means for operating said container-conveying means; intermittently operable pusher transfer means for transferring a group of products from said product support means to a container on said container-conveying means; means for intermittently driving said transfer means; and means controlled by said sensing means for driving said transfer means only when said first sensing means senses the presence of a product and said second sensing means senses the absence of a product; 42. The combination defined in claim 41 in which an intermittently operated infeed conveyor means is provided for conveying products to said product support means; and drive and product support means;

means for supplying products thereto;

container conveyor means having a portion forwardly of and below said product support means for conveying containers successively to a loading station;

means for operating said container conveyor means;

said product support means including vertically movable means for moving from a raised position in which it receives products from said product support means to a lowered position to transfer said products to a container positioned on said container conveyor means;

pusher transfer means movable in a path to engage behind a group of products and transfer said products from said vertically movable means to a container on said container-conveying means;

drive means for said transfer means; and

control means, sensitive to the presence of product on said product support means, for intermittently driving said transfer means. 

1. Apparatus for use in a bakery-handling system comprising: product conveyor means; container conveyor means having a portion forwardly of and below said product conveyor means for conveying containers having bottom and sidewalls successively to a loading station; means for operating said product conveyor means and said container conveyor means; said product conveyor means including vertically movable means for moving from a raised position in which it receives products from said product conveyor means to a lowered position to transfer said products to a container on said container conveyor means; pusher transfer means movable in a path to engage behind a group of products on said product conveyor means and transfer said products to a container on said container-conveying means; and control and drive means, sensitive to the presence of product on said product conveyor means for intermittently driving said pusher means, when product is present.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vertically movable means operates in response to movement of said transfer means.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including first sensing means for sensing the presence of a product on said product conveyor means; said transfer means being responsive to said first sensing means.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including second sensing means for sensing the presence of a product on said vertically movable means; said transfer means being responsive to said second sensing means.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including third sensing means for sensing the presence of a container on said container conveyor means at said loading Station; said transfer means being responsive to said third sensing means.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including fourth sensing means for sensing the presence of a container on said container conveyor means downstream of said loading station; said transfer means being responsive to said fourth sensing means.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said fourth sensing means operates to disable operation of said transfer means when the presence of a container is sensed thereby.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including first container stop means for stopping a container on said container conveyor means at said loading station; said stop means being responsive to the operation of said transfer means.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 including means for moving said first stop means to a nonstopping position when said transfer means is operated to permit said container to move forwardly along said container conveyor means when said groups of bread loaves are being transferred to said container.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 including second container stop means for stopping a container on said container conveyor means downstream of said loading station.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 including means moving transversely of said container conveyor means for pressing the products into the containers.
 12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second container stop means is responsive to the position of said transverse moving means.
 13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including first and second sensing means for sensing the position of a product on said product conveyor means, and said vertically movable means respectively, said vertically movable means operating in response to said first and second sensing means to move to said lowered position when the presence and absence of a product is sensed by said first and second sensing means respectively.
 14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including third and fourth sensing means for sensing the position of a container on said container conveyor means; said vertically movable means operating in response to said third and fourth sensing means to move to said lowered position when the presence and absence of a container is sensed by said third and fourth sensing means respectively.
 15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vertically movable means is pivotally mounted on one end of an endless product conveyor means.
 16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said endless product conveyor means includes a generally horizontally extending portion and an inclined portion in converging relation therewith.
 17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said vertically movable means is mounted adjacent the inclined portion of said endless product conveyor means.
 18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said product conveyor means has a discharge portion in generally convergent relation with said container conveyor means.
 19. In container-loading apparatus for loading products such as packaged bread into containers or pallets: first conveyor means for conveying containers; product-conveying means disposed above said first conveyor means and having a discharge portion in superposed relationship therewith; said first conveyor means and discharge portion of the product-conveying means extending in converging relation so that products from said product-conveying means may be readily deposited in said containers; and transfer means for moving said products along said product-conveying means and to a position to compress said products in the direction of travel thereof and pack them into said containers.
 20. The combination defined in claim 10 in which means is provided for feeding groups of products to said product conveying means in spaced-apart relation with all products which are to be received in a container fed as a group.
 21. The combination defined in claim 19 in which said product-conveying means incLudes a substantially horizontally disposed delivery conveyor.
 22. The combination defined in claim 19 in which means supplies containers to said first conveyor means on a demand basis.
 23. The combination defined in claim 19 in which said first conveyor means includes at least two conveyors with the forward conveyor driven at a faster rate of speed to space out containers thereon.
 24. The combination defined in claim 19 in which said transfer means comprises pusher means moving in a path of travel between a forward stopped position at the discharge end of said discharge portion in which it acts as a stop for following products and a rear position in which it engages behind products moving along said product conveying means; means being provided for stopping said pusher means in said forward stopped position.
 25. The combination defined in claim 24 in which sensing means positioned adjacent the product-conveying means upstream from said discharge end controls said pusher means.
 26. The combination defined in claim 19 in which said first conveyor means is continuously driven.
 27. Apparatus for use in a bakery-handling system comprising: product-conveying means; container-conveying means extending forwardly of and below said product conveyor means and including a continuously driven container-advancing element for conveying containers having bottom and sidewalls successively to a loading station; drive means for operating said product-conveying means and said container-conveying means; intermittently operable pusher transfer means, sensitive to the presence of product on said product-conveying means and a container on said container-conveying means, for transferring a group of products from said product conveyor means to a container on said container-conveying means; and control means for intermittently driving said transfer means in accordance with whether the presence of a product and a container is sensed to transfer a group of products to said container.
 28. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including second sensing means downstream of said first sensing means for sensing the presence of a product on said product conveyor means in a position to be loaded into a container on said container-conveying means; said transfer means being controlled by said second sensing means; said product conveyor means including a plurality of longitudinally disposed freely rotatable rollers; said first sensing means being positioned opposite the input portion of said plurality of rollers.
 29. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including additional sensing means for sensing the presence of a container on said container-conveying means; said transfer means being controlled by said additional sensing means.
 30. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including an intermittently operable infeed conveyor means for conveying products to said product conveyor means; first and second sensing means for sensing the presence of products on said product conveyor means; third sensing means for sensing the presence of a container on said container conveyor means; and means for intermittently operating said infeed conveyor means in response to said first, second, and third sensing means.
 31. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including counting means for counting the products moving on said product conveyor means; said means for intermittently driving said transfer means being responsive to said counting means.
 32. The combination defined in claim 19 in which said transfer means comprises a pusher moving above and along said product conveying means and at a rate of speed relative to said first conveyor means to compress said products in the direction of travel thereof.
 33. The combination defined in claim 32 in which said first conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor operated to advance the container being loaded when the pusher is moving so that loading occurs on the fly.
 34. The combination defined in claim 1 in which a horizontal coNveyor feeds products to said product conveyor means and comprises a part thereof; and said container conveyor means comprises a horizontal conveyor in vertical alignment with said product conveyor means.
 35. Apparatus for use in a bakery-handling system comprising: product-conveying means comprising a continuously driven conveyor and an intermittently driven conveyor upstream thereof for supplying products thereto; container-conveying means having a portion forwardly of and below said product conveyor means and including a container-advancing element for conveying containers having bottom and sidewalls successively to a loading station; sensing means near the upstream end of said continuously driven conveyor for sensing the presence of absence of product thereon; drive means for operating said container-conveying means; pusher transfer means having a path of travel above and along said continuously driven conveyor; drive means for moving said pusher means at a faster product-advancing rate of speed than said continuously driven conveyor for moving a group of products along said product conveyor means toward a container on said container conveying means; means for driving said continuously driven conveyor; and means controlled by said sensing means for driving said upstream intermittently driven conveyor to supply product when said sensing means indicates the absence of a product.
 36. The combination defined in claim 35 in which said container advancing element is continuously driven and means is provided for sensing the presence of a container at said loading station; and control means is incorporated with said pusher drive means to drive said pusher transfer mean only if a container is at the station.
 37. Apparatus for use in a bakery-handling system comprising: product support means; means for supplying products thereto; container-conveying means extending forwardly of and below said product support means and including a continuously driven container-advancing element for conveying containers successively to a loading station; drive means for operating said container advancing element; intermittently operable pusher transfer means, sensitive to the presence of product on said product support means and a container on said container-conveying means for transferring a group of products from said product support means to a container on said container-conveying means; and control and drive means for intermittently driving said transfer means in accordance with whether both the presence of a product and a container is sensed.
 38. The combination defined in claim 37 in which said container-advancing element comprises an endless conveyor and a stop member is provided at said loading station and is movable to and from a position in which it stops a container on said endless conveyor; and said control and drive means drives said transfer means only if a container is held by said stop member.
 39. The combination defined in claim 38 in which a second downstream stop is provided adjacent said container-conveying means adjacent a second station and is movable to and from a position in which is stops a container thereon; and control means permits said control and drive means to drive said transfer means only if said second stop is not holding a container.
 40. The combination defined in claim 38 in which sensing means adjacent said stop member comprises a portion of said control and drive means; and means is provided for moving said stop member to an inoperative position when said transfer means is driven.
 41. Apparatus for use in a bakery-handling system comprising: product-support means; means for supplying products thereto; container-conveying means having a portion forwardly of and below said product support means and including a container-advancing element for conveying containers with bottom and sidewalls successively to a loading station; first and second sensing mEans respectively near the downstream and upstream ends of said product support means for sensing the presence or absence of product thereon; drive means for operating said container-conveying means; intermittently operable pusher transfer means for transferring a group of products from said product support means to a container on said container-conveying means; means for intermittently driving said transfer means; and means controlled by said sensing means for driving said transfer means only when said first sensing means senses the presence of a product and said second sensing means senses the absence of a product.
 42. The combination defined in claim 41 in which an intermittently operated infeed conveyor means is provided for conveying products to said product support means; and drive and control means for driving said infeed conveyor stops it when said first and second sensing means senses the presence of a product.
 43. Apparatus for use in a bakery-handling system comprising: product support means; means for supplying products thereto; container conveyor means having a portion forwardly of and below said product support means for conveying containers successively to a loading station; means for operating said container conveyor means; said product support means including vertically movable means for moving from a raised position in which it receives products from said product support means to a lowered position to transfer said products to a container positioned on said container conveyor means; pusher transfer means movable in a path to engage behind a group of products and transfer said products from said vertically movable means to a container on said container-conveying means; drive means for said transfer means; and control means, sensitive to the presence of product on said product support means, for intermittently driving said transfer means. 